Dundee United footballer Mihael Kovacevic confessed at the sheriff court to driving at 95mph on the city’s East Dock Street because he confused the road’s 40mph speed limit sign with a 70mph limit sign on the railway alongside.
Kovacevic (22), of Thorter Row, admitted that on October 23 he drove a car dangerously and at grossly excessive speeds up to 95mph in a 40mph zone.
The charge against Kovacevic had originally read that he had driven at speeds up to 104mph but an amended complaint was produced in court and accepted by the Crown.
Depute fiscal Arthur Wheelan said at 5.45pm police had been carrying out speed checks with a hand-held device on East Dock Street. They could hear a car approaching and saw one coming at speed in the offside lane travelling west.
On pointing the device at the car it was found to be driving at a top speed of 95mph in a 40mph zone.
Kovacevic was pursued and came to a halt at traffic lights beside Gallagher Retail Park. He was told why he had been stopped and replied, “I was just testing my car, I didn’t look at my speed.”WarningThe court was told that East Dock Street is a very busy road with traffic travelling to and from Arbroath and that travelling at such a speed would limit the ability of a driver to react. Kovacevic was warned by officers and went on his way.
Kovacevic’s solicitor Graham Walker told the court his client was a 22-year-old single man who is a professional footballer. He said that while the streets of Dundee have much to be commended there are areas that cause confusion and the locus bore that out.
Mr Walker produced a photograph in court showing the road in similar conditions to the night in question and pointed out the potential confusion of a 70mph sign on the adjacent railway line.
He said, “This does not prove an excuse but he was confused as to the speed limit on that particular road. He has lived in Dundee but was not familiar with that road. He regrets his actions and has tendered a guilty plea at the earliest opportunity.”
Mr Walker also told the court Kovacevic had been injured for some time and produced a bank statement to show his limited income and asked the court to bear that in mind with any potential financial penalty.
Sheriff Derek Pyle told the court, “This road is a dual carriageway and potentially very dangerous. I am unimpressed with the notion that it might be seen to be 70mph. No one would think that.”
Sheriff Pyle called for social inquiry reports and a community service assessment report and deferred sentence until March 17. Kovacevic was disqualified from driving in the meantime.
Speaking outside the court, the footballer said he regretted what he had done, saying, “It was a big fast car and I didn’t feel the speed. It was a moment of weakness. If I speed from now on I will go to Knockhill.”DisappointingJo Bullock, a spokeswoman for accident prevention charity ROSPA, said, “It’s disappointing when any driver exceeds the speed limit to such an extent. High speeds make crashes more likely and more severe.
“This particular driver is extremely fortunate he managed to avoid having an accident because, at that speed, the consequences could have been devastating.”
Brake spokesperson Joel Hickman said, “Speeding is a huge problem that devastates families and local communities on a daily basis. One in four of all fatal crashes involve speeding yet every one of these deaths is easily preventable.
“It’s particularly alarming that role models and people in the public eye continue to think it is acceptable to drive at over twice the speed limit.”